THWARTING NEFARIOUS DESIGNS

In the wake of terrorist attack on Amarnath pilgrims in the Valley despite tight security arrangements the security apparatus needs to be upgraded to unprecedented level across the state of J&K. This has become all the more inevitable especially in view of less than a month remaining for the Independence Day celebrations besides Raksha Bandhan and Janam Ashtami festivals approaching near. With violence in the state being perpetrated by the neighbour Pakistan trying its best to keep the Kashmir pot on the boil through repeated infiltration attempts from across the border besides exploiting the gullible Kashmiris there is a dire need to deal with the situation seriously. Not only this Pakistan has been repeatedly resorting to blatant ceasefire violations on almost daily basis in J&K. As such the security agencies are expected to be on the highest degree of vigil not only in this state which is passing through a time testing phase but across the nation. Though the forces guarding our borders besides those in the hinterland have been successful in nabbing or eliminating the terrorists either during infiltration or even thereafter yet there are apprehensions about presence of militants across the state who have succeed in escaping the eye of the forces and plan to strike in a big way. There are apprehensions of locally grown militants seemingly having increased in numbers, also trying their best to display their existence especially on August 14 and August 15. It is in this regard that the security agencies too have been repeatedly calling for maintaining close vigil on elements trying to fuel the situation for their personal gains endangering the lives of innocent people. While the security agencies will ensure adequate man power deployment for maintenance of law and order at the venues of celebrations in addition to the Amarnath Yatra route there is a need to maintain exemplary synergy among various agencies directing them for keeping available required man power for the functions without affecting the law and order duties. At the same time it becomes the duty of citizens at the individual level too to remain ever alert and vigilant both in Valley as well as in Jammu province. In this backdrop there is an urgent need for security forces to remain consistently on high alert to thwart the nefarious designs of the enemies within and across the borders. In this regard the main focus has to be laid on Jammu Pathankot National Highway as breaching the International Border, the militants would try to launch attacks at the places along this highway. Moreover there is a need to realize that there could be attempts to target the I-Day venues, the festive gatherings on Raksha Bandhan and Janamashtami. In this regard the possibility of sleeper cells already existing in the state should not be ignored by the security establishment. While a single terror attack immediately impacts the state, with the tourism in Valley already shattered today, at the same time strikes by the terrorists on festivals have far greater potential of disturbing the communal harmony in the state which is the main aim of our neighbour as it leaves no stone unturned in grabbing every opportunity to destabilize this state. The people of this state are confident that the state’s police force alongwith the Border Security Force and Army will succeed in maintaining a strict vigil to foil any such nefarious design of the militants and their mentors.